Merck said on Thursday the U.S. FDA has approved its cholesterol pill, the first of its kind to receive the health regulator’s nod, bolstering the drugmaker’s efforts to diversify beyond its blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda.

The speedy clearance of Lipfendra is an important milestone for Merck and the result of a controversial voucher program put in place by former commissioner Marty Makary.

Merck's Lipfendra beats AstraZeneca's laroprovstat to become the first oral PCSK9 pill, priced at $10.50/day with $370M in 2027 sales forecast.